Biomarkers for ovarian cancer

Abstract

Biomarkers are provided that are useful for the detection or diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The biomarkers are also useful for determining whether the ovarian cancer is active, is in remission, or is recurring. Preferred biomarkers for detecting or diagnosing ovarian are provided in Table 1. Exemplary combinations of these biomarkers are described in FIGS. 2 - 6.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing therapeutic outcome of a treatment for ovarian cancer comprising determining the amount of one or more proteins in a blood sample from a ovarian cancer patient who is at remission after treatment, wherein the one or more proteins are selected from the group consisting of sICAM1, sTNFR-II, RANTES, sgp130, MMP-2, CA15-3, MIG, sVCAM-1, TPO, sTNFR-I and MDC and combinations thereof, and wherein elevated serum amounts of the one or more proteins or reduced level of MDC relative to a control indicates that the subject has poor overall survival relative to subjects in remission for ovarian cancer having lower serum amounts of the one or more serum proteins or higher MDC. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least two of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least three of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least four of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least five of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least six of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least seven of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least eight of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least nine of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of at least ten of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amounts of all eleven of the one or more proteins are determined. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , furthering including the step of determining serum amounts of CA125 and or human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), wherein elevated serum amounts of CA125 and/or HE4 indicates that the subject has poor overall survival relative to subjects in remission for ovarian cancer having lower amounts of the one or more serum proteins. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating ovarian cancer comprising administering to a subject in need thereof one or more chemotherapeutic agents in an amount or for a duration effective to reduce serum levels of one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of sICAM, sVCAM1, sTNFR-II, sgp130, MMP2, CA15-3, MIG, sVCAM-1, TPO, sTNFR-I, and MDC and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of at least two of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of at least three of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of at least four of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of five of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of six of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amounts of seven of the one or more proteins are reduced. 
     
     
         20 . A method for selecting a drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer comprising administering the drug to a non-human animal model of ovarian cancer, determining the amount of one or more proteins in a blood sample from the non-human animal model, wherein the one or more proteins are selected from the group consisting of sICAM, sVCAM1, sTNFR-II, sgp130, MMP2, and combinations thereof, and selecting the drug that reduces the amounts of the one or more proteins. (Covering non-human animal model is not very useful)